Kissed by Ice Read Online Free Page A

wander aboard. All I could do was play my role and hope they didn't ask me any awkward questions.
    I strode across the lobby with Drago hot on my heels. The young woman behind the desk looked up at my approach, a pleasant smile plastered on her face. The smile grew wider the minute she spotted Drago. So that was how the land lay. I gave him a subtle nudge in the ribs. He wasn't stupid. He took the hint.
    "Fair lady," he said, putting a little extra Highland burr into his voice and giving her a slight bow, "I would beg of you a great favor." I had to refrain from rolling my eyes.
    The girl giggled and tittered. "Of course," she gushed. "I am always here to help. What can I do for you?" She eyed him like she might dive across the desk and rip his clothes off. I barely bit back a laugh.
    "My sister and I are supposed to meet a friend of ours. However, she has forgotten where we are to meet." He gave her a conspiratorial look that spoke volumes about my supposed mental state. "I was wondering, could you kindly ring his room and ask him?"
    There was a courtesy phone not ten steps away. I half expected her to tell him to go use it. Instead, she giggled again and said, "Of course. Do you know his room number?"
    "Alas, she left it, in our room, and it is a long hike back."
    They exchanged another conspiratorial look. "No worries, sir. It happens. Just give me his name, and I'll look it up for you."
    He gave her a wide smile, and I thought she was going to faint dead away. "Eddie Mulligan. Although he may be booked under Edward Mulligan."
    She tapped away at her keyboard. "Ah, here he is. Let me call the room." She picked up her phone and dialed. After a moment she hung up. The look she gave Drago was so mournful, I thought she might burst into tears. "I'm so sorry. He's not answering. Would you like me to leave him a message? Or perhaps I could page him?"
    I stiffened. Blasting Eddie's name all over the ship was the last thing we needed. It could put him in even more danger.
    "No worries, my dear," Drago said, reaching over to squeeze her hand. "You have been incredibly helpful. We will simply have to meet up with Eddie later. Come along, sister." With a little wave at the desk clerk, he ushered me back onto the elevator.
    "How exactly was she helpful?" I hissed. "And does your wife know you're a mad flirt?"
    "She won't if you don't tell her," Drago said. "Besides, it was for a good cause. When the girl dialed, I saw the room number."
    I grinned. "I guess you're not just a pretty face after all."
    "Be careful, or my wife will kick your ass."

Chapter Three
    We found Eddie's room without much problem, and Drago "convinced" the reluctant steward to let us in. Probably he could have broken down the door just as easily, but it would have left a mess. The room was empty, and there was no sign of Eddie, only a vast amount of cravats and linen shirts littering the small space.
    "Looks like the place was tossed," Drago growled.
    "Uh, no. This is just Eddie. He's not exactly organized."
    "Huh." He prowled the small space as if looking for clues or maybe trying to pick up a scent.
    I turned to the steward, who was still dithering in the doorway. He looked like he wasn't sure whether to call security or run for his life. "Do you know where Eddie is?" I asked him.
    He shook his head so hard, his glasses nearly slid off his nose. "No, ma'am. I haven't seen Mr. Mulligan in the last two days."
    My eyebrows went up. "And you didn't think to tell anyone?"
    "Ah, no, ma'am. You see, it's not unusual for guests not to sleep in their, ah, quarters." His tone was one of imparting a delicate piece of information. It took me a moment to get it.
    "You think Eddie is shacked up with some steampunk chick?" I almost laughed at the thought. And then I remembered the crowd of women around him the last time I'd been to one of his steampunk events. Like bees to honey. Maybe it wasn't so crazy. "He never said where'd he be?"
    "Madam. I am not in the habit of keeping